Most of what we learn in high school seems to be either useless or forgotten within a couple of months of studying it. We are in almost a robotic pattern of memorizing information, taking a test on it and then moving on to a new topic completely different from what came before. My teachers then expect me to recall information that we may not have studied since seventh grade. My question is: How are we supposed to remember five years worth of “useful” information and have it on file ready to be used?
In my opinion, high school doesn’t work. We are fed countless books of information that are meant to make us well rounded. But, depending on what type of career path a student may choose, most of the things they learn in high school won’t be relevant to their choice. Having required classes is not beneficial to the average student, and that is why there is a lack of motivation amongst high school students, because the information isn’t relevant to their lives.
Classes should become more student specific as soon as you enter high school. Students should receive information that will benefit their career and adult life. This would limit the amount of years a student would have to go to college and it would be cheaper. It would also eliminate classroom boredom because students would be taking classes specific to their interests.
We are rarely taught in high school how to be adults. Things such as how to balance a checkbook, how to write a resume, or even ultimately to live on our own go untaught in high school. I don’t know about you, but I don’t know how a calculus problem will help me when I’m a broke college student, trying to build a resume for a future job. We are not taught the basic essentials of living on our own. We are expected to act as responsible adults, but are not taught how to do such a thing. So when it comes time for us to become parents, balance a checkbook and run a business, most of us will have no idea. I want to be more prepared for my future rather than learn useless things I’m not going to use, remember, or even pay attention to.
High school is that awkward stage between the basic things you need to know about different subjects and what you are truly interested in doing for the rest of your life. It takes up four years of your life and most of that information will be forgotten by the time you start your freshman year of college. In a 2006 release, the advocacy group Alliance for Excellent Education cited statistics that showed math to be the most in-demand remedial class, with 35 percent of all remedial students taking it. Another 23 percent took writing classes, and 20 percent were doing remedial work in reading (http://education-portal.com). I don’t think those four essential years should be wasted on information that will be soon forgotten.
— By Jessica Clayton